LCMSNews #98-94
Dec. 14, 1998
When the Commission on Theology and Church Relations (CTCR) met Nov. 19-21 -- its first meeting since this year's Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod convention -- it found four new assignments on its plate. It also had requests from Synod President A.L. Barry that two of them be completed within the year.
The convention told the CTCR to:
* Provide "a careful response" to "A Declaration of Eucharistic Understanding and Practice," a document developed by pastors in the Florida-Georgia District but distributed throughout the Synod. The assignment was part of Res. 3-05, which reaffirms the Synod's communion practice and says the document "is not an adequate basis for addressing questions about admission to the Lord's Supper."
Dr. Samuel H. Nafzger, the commission's executive director, said Barry has urged that the response be completed by May. "We are going to attempt to do that," he said.
Preliminary work will be done by CTCR Committee 1, chaired by Dr. David P. Scaer of Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Ind. The committee has indicated that, "in some way, it wants to involve the president of the Florida-Georgia District in this study," Nafzger said.
* Develop and promote a Biblical and Confessional study of the Synod's fellowship principles and practices (Res. 3-03B). The study is to be used at district conventions in 2000 to prepare for concentrated study of the issue at the 2001 Synod convention (Res. 3-10C).
The convention gave responsibility for the study jointly to the CTCR and to the Synod President. Barry told the commission that he would like the study to be completed by September, Nafzger said.
* Prepare an evaluation of two ecumenical documents adopted by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America -- "A Formula of Agreement" with the Reformed and the Lutheran/Roman Catholic "Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification." The assignment was made in Res. 3-08A, which expressed "deep regret and profound disagreement" over the ELCA's 1997 declaration of full communion with three Reformed church bodies and its adoption of the justification document. The CTCR committee given initial responsibility for this assignment will make use of responses to these documents prepared by the Synod's two seminaries.
* "Provide for the preparation of a study document to help the church, on the basis of the Word of God, make informed ethical judgments concerning cloning and attendant issues" (Res. 3-15B).
In its report to the 1998 convention, the commission listed 10 "studies in progress." In Res. 3-20, the convention granted the CTCR's request to remove one of them, a study of inerrancy of Scripture, from its agenda. That assignment had been made by the 1973 convention.
The November meeting also saw nine new voting members, of 16 on the commission. "This is the biggest turnover we have ever had," Nafzger said.
The CTCR elected Texas District President Gerald B. Kieschnick its new chairman; Rev. Scott Murray of Houston, vice chairman; and Rev. George Dolak, Natrona Heights, Pa., secretary. Chairing its three standing committees will be Dr. David P. Scaer of Fort Wayne, Ind.; Dr. James Voelz, professor of exegetical theology at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis; and Michigan Circuit Court Judge Gene Schnelz of Novi, Mich.